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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 5, 2016)
Polk County Living Polk County Itemizer-Observer • October 5, 2016 7A JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer Dallas residents Jennifer Hodgdon, left, Arron Hodgdon and Scott Hodgdon search for a medium-sized pumpkin on Saturday at Beal Pumpkin Patch. PUMPKIN HUNTING Dallas Christmas tree farm opens first pumpkin patch running through October By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — The on-and- off rain Saturday didn’t dampen the excitement of Beal Pumpkin Patch’s open- ing day. “It’d been pretty quiet so far,” co-owner Don Beal said as he walks down a dirt road to the pumpkin patch. Quiet is OK with Don and his wife, Jo Ann Beal. This is the first year they expanded their Dallas Christmas tree farm to include pumpkin season, and they spent part of the first day setting up. Jo Ann said as they con- sidered of- fering the pumpkin patch, they heard from several people in the commu- nity that Dallas needed a local option for those who didn’t want to drive far or battle large crowds. “This, I think is the per- fect setup for them,” Jo Ann said. “It’s a little trip. They can just come out here.” Check it out The pumpkin patch is open each Saturday and Sunday in Octo- ber, ending on Oct. 30, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 700 Oak Villa Road, Dallas. School field trips can be reserved during week days. The pumpkin patch is sit- uated in an open field at the farm. Visitors walking down the short road from the parking lot emerge from behind a barn to see the landscape dot- ted with b r i g h t o r- a n g e gourds. The Beals aren’t trying to emulate the big harvest festivals of other farms in the area, but they are offering food — popcorn, chips and hot dogs — and family games. The “I-Spy Trail,” a short oak-forested loop on which players try to locate objects within the trees, is one of Jo JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer Beal Pumpkin Patch co-owner Jo Ann Beal, right, talks with customers Saturday afternoon by the gift shop at the farm. This is the first year Jo Ann and her husband, Don Beal, have offered a pumpkin patch. Ann’s favorite activities. They also have face painting and a gift shop selling seasonal items and Halloween deco- rations she made by hand. Starting this weekend, Dallas FFA members will bring animals for a petting zoo. “We’re never going to be that big,” Don said. “We’re a local farm, but we will keep adding things every year.” For the first year, the Beals didn’t grow their own pump- kins, choosing to buy them from local farmers — in- cluding the Wall Farm in Perrydale — while testing the waters. If the month goes well, next year, Beal Pumpkin Patch will grow its own pumpkins. For now, though, the cou- ple is looking forward to watching customers hunt for the perfect potential jack-o-lantern. “We just really look for- ward to having the kids come out,” Jo Ann said. "I have devoted my life to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and to serving the people of Polk County. I am honored to be your Sheriff." — Sheriff Mark Garton Mark's accomplishments since becoming YOUR Sheriff: ✓ Restored 24 Hour Patrols ✓ Reinstated POINT (drug team) ✓ Establishing a mental health Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) ✓ Established the Sheriff’s Advisory Team (SAT)
